Odicy is an online hotel booking agency dedicated to the legendary cities of Morocco.
We are committed to answering all of your questions quickly via email or telephone.
Our agents are available Monday through Saturday from 8 am to 7 pm (GMT)
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+44 845 017 88 98 |
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+1 866 448 80 53 |
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+212 24 29 16 16 |
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Preamble
About Odicy
Odicy is an online hotel reservation platform dedicated to the legendary city of Marrakech.
This system allows you to make a reservation quickly and easily with real time availabilities and instantaneous confirmation. Not only does Odicy guarantee you the best prices and a secure payment system, but it also gives you the ability to book room either online or by phone through its client support available 6 days a week.
The choice of establishments suggested is the result of a meticulous selection process based on an extremely rigorous quality charter.
Wheter it is a hotel, a Riad, a Kasbah or a traditional house, all these accommodations have been carefully chosen by the Odicy team because they distinguish themselves by a unique and authentique charm character. Each one of these outstanding properties assures their guests a personalized and warm hospitality service where everything is done to make your stay unforgettable.
Odicy Accommodation classification
Accommodation type
For simplification reasons, Odicy will classify all of its accommodations according to two types "Hotel" or "Riad"
● "Hotel" : for hotels
● "Riad" : for Riads, Guest Houses, Kasbah, Hotel of Charm or any other kind of accommodation.
Whether it is a hotel or a guest house, a category has been assigned to them according to the reglementation.
Definitions
Hotel
A hotel is an establishment that provides paid lodging, usually on a short-term basis. Hotels often provide a number of additional guest services such as a restaurant, a swimming pool or childcare. Some hotels have conference services and meeting rooms and encourage groups to hold conventions and meetings at their location.
The Riad and the Dar constitute a traditional habitat of the Moroccan urban center. These houses are entirely closed on the outside and their architecture is organized around a central patio on the model of the Arabo - Muslim traditional habitations. They are often endowed with a fountain. Etymologically, " riad " means " garden " in Arabic and " dar " means " house ". Therefore most commonly, a Riad is simply a traditional house or place with an interior courtyard or garden. The origin of Riads goes far back in time but under their contemporary aspect, they are a temporal representation of the oriental paradise.
According to the law 61-00, a "maison d'hotes" or a guest house is any establishment built under the shape of a traditional house, a Riad, a Palace, a Kasbah or a Villa and located either in the Medina, in the tourist itineraries or in sites of high touristic value. It offers rooms or suites equipped for rent. It can also provide restoration, animation and distraction services. Lately in Marrakesh, many Riads, Villas or traditional houses have been converted into guest houses.
A hotel of charm is an establishment characterized either by its traditional Moroccan architecture or by its Moroccan traditional decoration and furniture. The services and comfort provided must be of high quality. The rooms, suites and other premises have to denote a luxurious aspect regarding the furnitures and equipment.
Kasbah
In countries of North Africa a Kasbah designates a citadel. By extension the word designates also the historic heart - walled or not - of a city of North Africa. It was the place for the local leader to live and as a defense when the city was under attack. A kasbah has high walls which usually have no windows. Sometimes, they were built on the top of hill to make them easier to defend. Some of them were also placed near the entrance of harbors.
A ksar is a walled village that one finds in Maghreb. Generally combining attics and dwellings, one finds them commonly on the buttresses near of oasis in order to protect themselves of attacks coming from nomadic tribes. Also, etymologically " ksar " in Arabic means " palace ".
A medina is a traditional city, in countries of the Maghreb, in western and oriental Africa. It is characterized by its exchanges with the surrounding farming zones that feed it and by activities merchants who sustain it, in spite of battlements that close it and protect it of the invader threat. A big part of a medina is occupied by soukses.
In Arabic a souk is a market generally situated in the medina. We can find there foodstuffs, clothing as well as jewellery, potteries...etc. We can also find numerous kinds of spices that perfume the alleys.
Hotel category
The hotel classified in the «five stars» category is an establishment characterized by the luxury and the comfort of the building and facilities as well as by the quality of its services, the qualification and its staff's correction.
The hotel classified in the category «four stars» is an establishment characterized by the big status and the comfort of its facilities. It must be physically autonomous in relation to other buildings.
Guest house category
Guest houses are classified into two categories:
Following the example of other tourist accomodations, the new law enforces guest houses to obtain a classification before starting their business. This law has has brought constraining rules to which guest houses have to comply in order to provide their clients with the full range of services as well as the quality level accordingly to the assigned classification. Hence, the real improvement brought by this new reglementation is that any breach of the law will result in sanctions.
First Category (A)
This is the top classification for guest houses in Morocco. A «first category» or «category A» guest houses is characterized by its traditional Moroccan architecture, its decoration and its typical Moroccan furniture. The services provided as well as the comfort have to be of high quality. The breakfast service is mandatory. The rooms, suites and other facilities have to denote a luxurious aspect regarding the furniture and equipment. The establishment should have at its disposal a minimum of five rooms or suites and a maximum of thirty rooms or suites.
A «second category» or «category B» guest house is characterized by its typical Moroccan architecture, its decoration and its traditional Moroccan style furniture. The services provided and the comfort must be of quality. The breakfast service is mandatory. Such establishment should have at its disposal a minimum of five rooms or suites and a maximum of twenty rooms or suites.
The City of Marrakech
Marrakech, known as the " South Pearl " or the "Red City " is a city of Morocco set in the Southwest of the Atlas Mountains. Marrakech is the 3rd largest city in Morocco after Casablanca and Rabat with a population of 1.036.500 inhabitants distributed on a surface of 6.2 km²
The city is divided in two distinct areas: the medina or historic city (old fortified city with 10 kilometers of surrounding walls) and the new city whose main districts are called Guéliz and Hivernage. Guéliz constitutes today the commercial city center. It was founded by the French at the time of the protectorat. The Hivernage district counts many residences and hotels complexes.
The Marrakech economy is essentially based on tourism, commerce and arts and crafts. Lately, the hotel infrastructure has known a tremendous growth. Marrakech has become one of the most popular tourist destinations in the world attracting more than two million tourists every year.
It is also the starting point for numerous excursions for hikers who want to explore the Atlas Mountains or the desert further south.
Prior to the advent of the Almoravids in the 11th century, the area was ruled from the city of Aghmat. The Almoravid leader, Abu-Bakr Ibn-Umar decided Aghmat was becoming overcrowded and decided to build a new capital. Being a nomad from the Sahara Desert, he decided to build it in a plain, away from the mountains and rivers, and chose the site of Marrakech as being in neutral territory between two tribes who were vying for the honor of hosting the new capital. Work started in May 1070, but Abu-Bakr was recalled to the Sahara to put down a rebellion in January 1071, and the city was completed by his deputy and eventual successor Yusuf ibn Tashfin. The city experienced its greatest period under the leadership of Yacoub el Mansour, the third Almohad sultan. A number of poets and scholars entered the city during his reign, and he began the construction of the Koutoubia Mosque and a new kasbah.
Prior to the reign of Moulay Ismail, Marrakech has been the capital of Morocco. After his reign, his grandson moved the capital back to Marrakech from Meknès.
For centuries Marrakesh has been known for its 'seven saints'. When sufism was at the height of its popularity, during the reign Moulay Ismail, the festival of the 'seven saints' was founded by Abu Ali al-Hassan al-Yusi at the request of the sultan. The tombs of several renowned figures were moved to Marrakesh to attract pilgrims in the same way Essaouira did at that time with its Regrega festivals. The 'seven saints' (sebaa rizjel) is now a firmly established institution, attracting visitors from everywhere. The seven saints include Sidi Muhammad al-Jazuli, Sidi Abu al-Qasim Al-Suhayli and Cadi Ayyad ben Moussa.
Marrakech was dominated in the first half of the 20th century by T'hami El Glaoui, Lord of the Atlas and Pasha of Marrakesh.
